Primary importance…
First, let’s get the obvious question out of the way: What the hell are we doing putting out an election issue in the middle of August? The Obama-McCain showdown doesn’t happen until November, right? But here’s the thing: The county and state officials you choose in the September 20 primary (and subsequent November general election) are going to have a far greater impact on your day-to-day life than the person who ultimately wins the White House. It’s those local public servants, not some suit in Washington, who make the decisions about the policies, priorities and infrastructure that make Maui tick. If you don’t care, you should.
With that in mind, we present the first in our series of Primary Primers. We sent out questionnaires to candidates running for County Council and the state legislature and used their responses to create introductory blurbs, giving you a quick look at who they are and what they care about. This week, we profile nine candidates in four races; you’ll meet the rest in subsequent issues.
The goal here is to inform; more depth and opinion will come later. For now, consider this a grip and grin with the folks who want to earn your trust—and your vote.
Senate 5th District
(West Maui-South Maui):
(Incumbent)
NAME: Roz Baker
AGE: 61
YEARS ON MAUI: 28
CURRENT PROFESSION: State Senator
EXPERIENCE: Education lobbyist, business owner, consultant, legislative aide
PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT: Obama
KEY DISTRICT ISSUES: Traffic Advocates completion of four key projects: Lahaina Bypass and Honoapiilani Hwy. widening for West Maui and the North-South collector road and upcountry highway for South Maui; supports preservation of corridors for rapid transit systems “when our population warrants that service”; calls on the Governor to declare West Maui a traffic emergency zone… Healthcare “Improved access starts with adequate personnel.” Wants to facilitate the training of more local doctors and to create incentives to draw physicians and specialists to the island
KEY MAUI ISSUES: Energy “I want us to continue to push the envelope to expand our energy portfolio to grow sustainable energy crops and further develop our wind, wave and photovoltaic resources.”… Economy Calls for more public works projects to create jobs and for a diversification of industry: “Perhaps we can use this economic slowdown as a way for the community to come together to take stock of its assets and liabilities, its strengths and weaknesses.”
(Challenger)
NAME: Jan Shields (R)
AGE: 54
YEARS ON MAUI: 8
CURRENT PROFESSION: Business owner
EXPERIENCE: Nurse, inventor, lobbyist
PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT: Decline to state
KEY DISTRICT ISSUES: Education Calls for construction of a new high school in Kihei, supports increased funding for charter schools… Traffic “In West Maui, we need the Lahaina bypass to be started. We have waited much too long for this project. We also need to come up with a plan to increase the traffic carrying capacity of the Pali.”
KEY MAUI ISSUES: Education Advocates higher salaries for teachers and the creation of local school boards: “We are top heavy on administration and therefore not enough money is getting into the classrooms.”… Healthcare Calls for the privatization of public hospitals, would push to abolish the Certificate of Need (CON) process: “Hospitals are businesses. The government hospital system is going to bankrupt the state if we do not take action now.”
“Some people feel that you need to have lived here a long time to see the problems and know what to do about them. I disagree. Sometimes when someone looks at an old problem with fresh eyes, they bring new and different solutions.”
–Jan Shields
(Challenger)
NAME: Bart Mulvihill (D)
AGE: 48
YEARS ON MAUI: 29
CURRENT PROFESSION: Realtor
PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT: Decline to state
KEY DISTRICT ISSUES: Hospitals “Overturn the CON process or bring about overwhelming pressure the State Health Planning and Development Agency cannot bear.”… Highways “Reform state procurement laws allowing certain companies to rape our budget with inflated bids.”
KEY MAUI ISSUES: Housing Supports building “state subsidized apartments for the working class, not welfare, so this sector can save money for a down payment to realize the great American Dream.”… Transportation Would “openly solicit the government to subsidize fuel costs through bond measures to make Hawaii airfares more affordable.”
Senate 6th District (Upcountry, East Maui, Molokai, Lanai):
(Incumbent)
NAME: J. Kalani English (D)
AGE: 42
YEARS ON MAUI: 42
CURRENT PROFESSION: State Senator
EXPERIENCE: UN Diplomat, Maui County Councilmember
PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT: Obama
KEY DISTRICT ISSUES: Transportation Advocates widespread infrastructure renewal for roads, piers and harbors: “The sheer vastness of the district exemplifies the need for a sound, multi-modal transportation system.”… Food security Encourages residents to grow their own food, calls for increased support of local farmers: “While we have great abundance in our islands, we also import more than 90 percent of our food. Thus, if there were an interruption of our transportation system for more than a few days, we would quite literally be out of food.”
KEY MAUI ISSUES: Economy Calls for a complete reexamination of the island’s economic base: “We must address the question of whether our state’s reliance on the visitor industry will be healthy for the future.”… Energy “As the most petroleum-dependent state in the nation, we need to develop a plan for our energy future. We are fortunate to possess the natural resources that could serve as a foundation for alternative energy production including wind, solar, ocean thermal and wave kinetic generation systems.”
(Challenger)
NAME: John Blumer-Buell (I)
AGE: 60
YEARS ON MAUI: 34
CURRENT PROFESSION: Homemaker & gardener
EXPERIENCE: Landscaper, Maui General Plan Advisory Committee member
PRESEDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT: Obama
KEY DISTRICT ISSUES: Water use Calls for increased water storage, funded by charging fair market rate for agricultural water that’s diverted: “The diversion of East Maui stream water is degrading and destroying the natural environment and violating laws regarding cultural practices and human rights.”… Healthcare Supports de-privatizing Hana Health; calls the projected $62 million dollar deficit for the Hawaii Health Services Corporation “a crisis”; promises to “work for a new hospital in South Maui” and “encourage a public-private partnership.”
KEY MAUI ISSUES: Energy Proposes the creation of a “Hawaii Indigenous Power Sources Master Plan,” supports tax credits and low-interest loans to encourage alternative energy use… Food Supports community gardens and local farmers: “We need a workable plan for Hawaii State Food Independence.”
“I would like to serve through the power of love, not the love of power.”
–John Blumer-Buell
East Maui:
(Incumbent)
NAME: Bill Medeiros
AGE: 61
YEARS ON MAUI: 61
CURRENT PROFESSION: County Councilmember
EXPERIENCE: United States Air Force, 35 years in various public agencies
PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT: Obama
KEY DISTRICT ISSUES:
HEALTHCARE Emphasizes the “urgent need for dialysis services in East Maui,” is working with state and local officials, Hui Laulima O Hana and other agencies to push for the service… AFFORDABLE HOUSING Is “working with Hana Ranch Properties, Hale Mahalolu, consultants and builders to pursue affordable housing projects”; also emphasizes the need for senior housing and a daycare center for Hana.
KEY MAUI ISSUES: WATER Calls for a needs assessment, development of new water sources; says the key is to “balance the use of water for housing and ecological and environmental concerns.”
(Challenger)
NAME: Lucienne de Naie
AGE: 60
YEARS ON MAUI: 23
CURRENT PROFESSION: Writer,
researcher, part-time farmer
EXPERIENCE: Business owner
PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT: Obama
KEY DISTRICT ISSUES: Housing Would expedite affordable housing projects; supports lowering property taxes for those living on traditional family lands granted during the Mahele… Economic opportunities Supports small-scale local farming; would seek funding for certified kitchens in Hana and other East Maui communities to allow families to produce food and goods for sale.
KEY MAUI ISSUES: Energy Calls on local government to increase efficiency, set an example: “We need the Council and Mayor to lead the way in converting all county facilities to the cleanest, most energy efficient systems possible.”… Water usage Supports creation of a new comprehensive water use plan that “respects traditional water rights for native Hawaiians” while focusing on conservation, efficient collection and storage and audits and oversight of the county’s largest users.
“We irrigate deserts to look like tropical rainforests while agriculture has to endure yearly cutbacks.”
–Lucienne de Naie
West Maui:
(Incumbent)
NAME: Jo Anne Johnson
AGE: 61
YEARS ON MAUI: 20
CURRENT PROFESSION: County Councilmember
EXPERIENCE: Writer, business owner, youth center director
PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT: Decline to state
KEY DISTRICT ISSUES: Isolation “We are removed from needed medical care and also many of the key services that we depend on if our transportation corridor is closed off.” Works with the Honoapiilani Highway Relocation Task Force, pushing for a “secure a transit corridor that is at least removed from the flood zone.” Has introduced land use changes to make construction of a new medical facility possible. Lack of infrastructure Has introduced a measure to suspend building permits on ag lands, arguing that it’s “best to place infrastructure ahead of development to reduce the cost and complications that arise when homes, many of them multi-million dollar, may be in the way.”
KEY MAUI ISSUES: Over-reliance on tourism “I will continue to support funding for the expansion of our high tech industry, farming community and also programs such as MEO micro-enterprise, which allow small businesses to form that will serve the needs of our community.” Rapid development Wants to call a “timeout” to discuss keeping farmland prices down, instituting traffic impact fees and conserving resources.
“I have survived hurricanes, tornados, economic hardships, business downturns, tourism difficulties, budgetary challenges, family health issues and the past seven years as a public servant.”
–Jo Anne Johnson
(Challenger)
NAME: Chayne Marten
AGE: 55
YEARS ON MAUI: 10
CURRENT PROFESSION: Real estate agent, writer
EXPERIENCE: Motivational speaker, athletic conditioning coach
PRESIDENTIAL ENDORSEMENT: Undecided
KEY DISTRICT/MAUI ISSUES: Healthcare Calls construction of an urgent care facility “a matter of life and death.” Proposes funding it through private industry, offering a “tax free holiday; no taxes for the first five years,” or by holding a celebrity “charity concert.” Economy Proposes harbor expansion “to accommodate our freight needs.” Calls for “responsible development” that takes “into consideration our natural resources and having infrastructure in place before development.”
NOTE: Alan Fukayama, who also filed papers for this seat, failed to return repeated calls and e-mails soliciting his input. Jared DuBois initially filed, but has since dropped out of the race. MTW
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